The State Fair of Texas announced that students in grades 9 through 12 from the Dallas Independent School District will receive free entry passes to the 2026 State Fair of Texas at Fair Park in Dallas, reversing a change made for the 2025 season that ended complimentary admission for high schoolers.
The move comes as part of broader efforts by fair organizers to make the event more accessible and respond to community feedback about cost and participation, especially after free tickets for older students were discontinued last year amid rising expenses and lower usage rates.
The State Fair of Texas, a long-running annual event that typically draws more than two million visitors each fall, has historically partnered with area school districts to offer free or low-cost admission for students and teachers as part of its education and community engagement programs.
In 2025, the fair stopped offering free passes to high schoolers, citing cost and security concerns, while continuing free admission for younger students and educators; student ticket programs were still expanded that year to cover additional weekend days for younger age groups.
Fair officials say the 2026 free entry passes for DISD high school students aim to reduce barriers for families and encourage participation in the longstanding cultural, educational and entertainment traditions at the State Fair — which runs each autumn at Fair Park.
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